Ambikā
From Hindupedia, the Hindu Encyclopedia
By Jit Majumdar
- mother.
- sensitive, compassionate, good woman.
- another name for Durgā; daughter of the king of Kāśī, sister of Ambā and Ambikā, the first wife of Vicitravīrya and the mother of Dhŗtarāşţra through Kŗşņa-Dvaipāyana Vyāsa[1]; a village goddess who represents a fierce class of Yoginīs [2]; the warrior goddess formed out of the collected and condensed energies of all the male gods to vanquish the Asuras [3]; a sister of Rudra [4]; the wife of the Rudra Ugraretas[5]; a mother in the retinue of Skanda [6]; a goddess in Jainism [7].
An aspect of goddess Pārvatī, Ambikā is described as being seated on a lion. She has three eyes and is adorned with various ornaments. Out of her four hands, three hold darpaṇa (mirror), khaḍga (sword) and khetaka (shield). The fourth (one of the right hands) exhibits the varadamudrā (boon-giving pose).
References[edit]
- The Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Swami Harshananda, Ram Krishna Math, Bangalore